Sumner
> I will take Rt. 111 to Rt. 1 to Portland.
STOP! many large sections of Route 1, from New Hampshire up to Portland,
are overdeveloped, traffic light ridden, nightmares. Especially down near
the New Hampshire border, where it is outlet mania. My wife knows this
major outlet center well. We WILL be stopping there. Route 1 is not a
scenic oceanside route south of Portland. The scenic rocky coves, etc.
etc., which are directly on Route 1, are North of Portland, where Route 1
winds down into small towns and the beautiful coves you see on the
calendars. The concourse and show however, are at a particularly nice,
rocky shore, ocean side spot, South of Portland.
Sumner, I know you are planning on coming in on Route 111, near Biddeford.
This way is above the outlets, but Route 1 is still no bargain up here. It
will look like the typical suburban sprawl you see at home. Hop on I-95 for
the two or three exits. There is no advantage to Route 1 here, unless you
just absolutely hate the interstates.
If I were you (and I lived right off Route 1 in Saco, ME) I'd stay on I-95
in ME and cruise on into Portland; Exit 7, I believe(?) to the hotels. I
know...., it's a boring road, nothing but pine trees lining the highway, but
it's a lot better than Route 1. There are some beautiful roads and beaches
South of Portland, but not visible from Route 1. My favorite is Fortunes
Rocks, where I shared many a Sunday morning sunrise with a few other Mainers
(who I didn't know) and my Norton. I may do this on Sunday of VTR too.
The VTR Kennebunk drive will be a nice one. I didn't have the TR when I
lived in Maine, but my Norton knows those roads intimately...Mmmmm, nice
roads. I look forward to introducing my TR to some of my old favorites on
this trip. ;-)
BTW - If you do take Route 1 and want a taste of an older seaside tourist
trap carnival type amusement park stop in at Old Orchard Beach (I-95 Exit 5
Saco/Old Orchard Beach). I haven't been there in 10 years, but it was a
nice place. We might head down there during the Lobster Cruise, which we
won't attend because I couldn't justify it costwise (at $114), with my wife
and two kids.
BTW - I haven't stopped in a few years, but the Alcoholic beverage prices in
New Hampshire (the highway rest stops have stores) were some of the cheapest
in the country and I'll be still are. They have a very low state tax on
(drinking) alcohol.
We'll be up on Thursday for lunch,
Jack (getting more homesick for Maine every day) Brooks
1960 TR3A
1974 Norton 850 Commando
Hillsdale, NJ
|